3of 24The Dallas Mavericks dancers perform during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

9of 24Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki warms up before the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

10of 24San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan watches as the team warms up for its NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

18of 24Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) prepares to take a shot as San Antonio Spurs' David West (30) and Tony Parker (9) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

19of 24San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker (9) and LaMarcus Aldridge, center, walk up court during a time out during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

21of 24Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle watches the team play the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

23of 24Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) moves the ball up court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)Photo: Jim Cowsert, Associated Press

DALLAS – The Spurs got a glimpse Friday night of what life might look like after Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili retire, and the view wasn't bad at all.

Of course, it helped that the Dallas Mavericks played like they suffered from double-vision.

With Duncan (sore right knee) watching from the bench in street clothes and Manu Ginobili (testicular surgery) resting back home after being released from the hospital earlier in the day, the Spurs cruised to a 116-90 win after building a soul-crushing 36-point halftime lead that brought out the worst in several Maverick players.

The chippy affair included the strange sight of a Tunisian rookie named Salah Mejri yelling at Spurs coach Gregg Popovich after a dunk with his team down 21 in first half.

"I have no idea what he said…It was pretty funny, though," Popovich said.

"It caught us off guard," Spurs forward David West said. "He just started talking junk."

Then there was Zaza Pachulia, who before getting ejected in the third quarter for arguing a call, threw a vicious elbow that grazed West's face and then later went after mild-mannered Danny Green.

"I've been hit harder than that – it wasn't a big deal," West said. "…I eat stuff like that – that's life."

Pachulia downplayed his cheap shots.

"(West) is trying to help his team win games, and I'm doing the same thing," Pachulia said. "He was just pressuring the ball, and I was just trying to change directions. Nothing serious, and I don't think I'm going to worry about it too much."

Popovich said he wasn't surprised his team kept its cool.

"They are pros," he said. "They know what the deal is. Just keep your head and play the game."

In improving to 42-8 to match their 2010-11 team for the best 50-game start in history, the Spurs got 23 points from Kawhi Leonard, 14 from LaMarcus Aldridge and 16 from Patty Mills. Aldridge also had a game-high 10 rebounds to record his team-best 15th double-double of the season and the 249th of his career.

Not bad for a team still trying to come to grips with the freak accident Ginobili suffered Wednesday night in a win over New Orleans.

"Have you ever heard of such a thing? Nobody has," Popovich said.

Sent to the hospital after taking a Ryan Anderson knee to the groin, Ginobili underwent surgery the next morning, a development that shocked many of his teammates.

"I thought he just would go home and put some ice on it and be on the road trip," Aldridge said. "To have it be so serious, it's definitely scary. Hopefully, he can bounce back quickly for us."

Ginobili's injury leaves a leadership void for the Spurs, who also have been without Duncan the last six games. There's no timetable for their captain's return, although most signs point to him coming back after the All-Star Game.

With Ginobili out for at least a month, the Spurs are assured of starting their nine-game rodeo road trip, which begins next Tuesday at Miami, without at least one member of their vaunted Big Three of Duncan, Ginobili and guard Tony Parker.

"We'll miss their play, but their leadership is just as important," Popovich said. "When those two guys are on the court, everything seems to work a little bit more smoothly."

In 43 games, Ginobili is averaging 10 points, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals as the leader of the NBA's best bench.

"He's talented," Aldridge said. "I didn't understand how talented he was until I got on the team. He makes some plays very few guys can make and his energy and IQ are hard to match."

Popovich indicated Ginobili's absence will mean more minutes for rookie Jonathon Simmons, who resembles Ginobili in his reckless style of play. Simmons had eight points in 23 minutes against the Mavs.

"We have a bunch of guys who work every single day to stay ready," West said. "Obviously, Manu is a big part of what we do. But these guys are working and they are ready to jump in and fill the void until he gets back."

The bench, though, could be even thinner tonight against the Lakers after Matt Bonner suffered a left calf injury late in Friday's game.

After three years as a part-time employee covering mainly high school sports, Tom Orsborn became a full-time employee at the Express-News in October 1985. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL since 1999 and has also covered the Spurs, the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and a variety of other events, including 14 Super Bowls.